The latest summer holiday edition of Visa’s Travel Pulse report highlights the growing significance of family travel in shaping the landscape of outbound tourism from the UAE. According to Visa, spending on leisure travel surged by 48% compared to the rest of the year, as residents of the UAE took advantage of school holidays to combine family visits abroad with recreational trips.
The study revealed that 40% of leisure travelers embarked on more than one trip during the summer, spending an average of 14 days per trip. Premium cardholders accounted for 88% of the total spending, with a 17% increase in expenditures among this category.
Summer 2025 witnessed a notable rise in family trips, which constituted 20% of all international journeys, nearly double the average of 12% for the rest of the year. Additionally, spending on airline tickets increased by 48% compared to other periods, with families of two to five people averaging $2,195 spent solely on ticket purchases.
London retained its position as the top travel destination, with a 7% share of total travelers, followed closely by Muscat at 7%, Riyadh at 6%, Istanbul at 5%, and Bangkok also at 5%.
Visa’s report emphasized the increasing influence of children on family travel planning, as spending on amusement parks rose by 150% using cards issued in the UAE. Travelers from the UAE spent an average of $145 per card on entertainment and $925 on accommodations.
Salima Gouteva, Vice President and General Manager of Visa in the UAE, commented, “Summer travel has always been associated with family activities, but it is interesting to observe the growing impact of children in determining family destinations and spending during vacations. These insights enable us and our partners to create travel experiences that are more unique, valuable, and aligned with family expectations.”